Means for aiding hearing



Oct. 10, 1967 J. L. MAHONEY 3,346,704

MEANS FOR AIDING HEARING- Filed Dec 27, 1963 2 Sheets$heet 1 I N VENTOR.

JACK L. MAHONEY ATTORNEYS Oct. 10, 1967 J. L. MAHONEY 3,34

' MEANS FOR AIDING HEARING Filed Dec. 27, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 SKIN(POSTERIJOR TO AURICLE) MICROPHONE TUBE (In AMPLIFIER UNIT (IO) SPEAKERTUBE (l2) MIDDLE EAR cAvrrv Roum: wmoow oucr TO COCHLEA INVENTOR. F/g. 3JACK L. MAHONEY I BY EZQE W ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,346,704MEANS FOR AIDING HEARING- Jack L. Mahoney, Box 276, Rte. 2, Carmel,Calif. 93921 Filed Dec. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 333,858 1 Claim. (Cl.179-107) This invention relates generally to hearing aids, but hasreference more particularly to a hearing aid which is completelyenclosed within the head of the individual utilizing the hearing aid.

Hearing aids which are presently available on the market are usuallyworn outside of the body, and are therefore objectionable from anesthetic, cosmetic, or functional viewpoint.

Although attempts have been made to utilize such hearing aids in amanner to conceal them from view, as, for example, within the temples ofspectacles, it is virtually impossible to conceal certain portions ofthe hearing aid, such as wires, etc., and for this reason, many personsWhose hearing facilities can be improved do not avail themselves of suchaids.

The present invention has as its primary object the provision of anaudio implant in the nature of a miniaturized system for amplifyingsound, which is placed directly in the structure of the ear and utilizesthe impaired or damaged, but still functioning, normal channels fortransmission of sound to the brain.

Another object of the invention is to provide an implant of thecharacter described, which is disposed in its entirety within the headstructure of the user, and is entirely concealed from view, therebyeliminating any and all objections to its use from an esthetic orcosmetic point of view.

A further object of the invention is to provide an implant of thecharacter described, utilizing a battery which is enclosed with the headstructure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent inthe course of the following description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional Viewof a portion of a human head taken through the right side of the headand passing through the mastoid antrum and middle ear, and showing thecomponents of the audio implant of the present invention in position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a portion of the rightside of the head, and with the external ear pulled forwardly to show orindicate where the implant and microphone tube are placed, and

FIG. 3 is a tabulation of the means utilizing the implant of the presentinvention, whereby sound is transmitted to the temporal lobe of thebrain, where the sound is heard.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, an understanding of FIG. 1can be gained if the observer can imagine he is inside the head of theperson depicted in FIG. 1, and is looking outwardly and through theright ear.

The observer will see the auditory canal 1, the tympanic membrane 2, themalleus 3, the incus 4, and the mastoid antrum 5. The tip of the mastoidis indicated by reference numeral 6, the chorda tympani by referencenumeral 7, a facial nerve by reference numeral 8, and the squama byreference numeral 9.

Normal hearing in an individual is accomplished by the help of theexternal ear, which concentrates the sonorous vibrations of the air uponthe tympanic membrane, causing the latter to vibrate. The chain of bonesin the middle ear, namely the malleus, incus, and stapes, transmitsthese vibrations to the internal ear, where, wholly or chiefly throughthe hair cells in the organ of corti, they stimulate the fibers of theauditory nerve, which then carries the sound impulses to the temporallobe of the brain.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a hearing improvement devicewhich 1 term an audio implant, and which consists of several components,including mainly a microphone, a battery, an amplifying system, and aspeaker, such as are found in a conventional hearing aid. Thesecomponents are encased in a silicone rubber sponge with a hardened coatof silicone rubber to form a unit, designated by reference numeral 10 inFIGS. 1 and 2.

The unit 10 is rectangular in shape, measuring approximately 1 cm. X 1cm., and a few millimeters in thickness, and is provided with a siliconerubber tube 11 extending centrally from one end of the unit 10, and asimilar tube 12 extending centrally from one side of the unit It). Thetubes 11 and 12 are approximately 1 /2 cm. in length, and approximately2 mm. in diameter. The tube 11, which I term the microphone tube, isattached to the microphone within the unit 16, and both ends of the tubeare sealed with a very thin membrane of silicone rubber. The tube 12,which I term the speaker tube, is attached to the speaker within theunit 10, and both ends of this tube are sealed with a very thin membraneof silicone rubber.

When the device is to be implanted, an endaural incision is made just infront of the auricular appendage of the external ear, in the skin of theanatomical area of the ear. This incision is approximately threecentimeters in length, and is carried out under local anesthesia. Thebony structure overlying the body of the mastoid is exposed, and an areaof bone, i.e., an area of approximately two square centimeters, isremoved down to the antrum cell of the mastoid. A few of the air cellsof the mastoid are then removed to enlarge the antrum cell toaccommodate the unit 10.

The unit 10 is then placed directly into this space in the manner shownin FIG. 1, and the speaker tube is then placed in a passageway whichextends from the antrum cell of the mastoid into the middle ear spacebehind the ear drum. More specifically, the speaker tube is brought upthrough a small opening near the introitus of the ear canal, and to apoint closely adjacent to what is commonly referred to as the roundwindow. The wave motion is transmitted to the cochlea, which starts theelectrical impulses to the temporal lobe of the brain.

The microphone tube 11 is then extended externally from the antrum cellof the mastoid and is covered with skin and will be disposed justbeneath the skin behind the ear. The incision is then closed, and theear again completely sealed. Since the skin incision is made in a hiddenarea in front of the ear, no noticeable scar will be produced, afterhealing.

Referring to FIG. 3 of the drawing, it is seen that through the use ofthe hearing aid of this invention, sound vibrations are transmittedthrough the skin, posterior to the auricle, hence to the microphone tube11, amplifier unit 10, speaker tube 12, middle ear cavity, round window,and duct to cochlea, thence in the normal manner to the temporal lobe ofthe brain.

The battery within the unit 10 is preferably a silvercadmium battery andcan be charged by a magnetic induction coil which is attached to a headband, which can be worn on the head while sleeping, or at any other timewhich is convenient. The induction coil is connected to a wire whichleads to a transistorized charging unit which is energized from aconventional electrical outlet. In charging the "battery, the inductioncoil on the head band is placed directly over the main structure of themastoid.

The implant will function for approximately eight days before it becomesnecessary to recharge such a battery with the magnetic induction coil.Recharging of the battery requires approximately six hours.

One of the advantages of the use of such an implant is that it isembedded solidly in the bone of the skull, and is so situated that itcan drive the sound directly into the inner ear, without the necessityof driving the sound through the tympanic membrane, which offersconsiderable resistance to transmission of sound in cases of conductivedeafness where the oval window and stapes are fused by abnormal boneclosure called otosclerosis.

Another advantage is that there are no parts which are disposedexternally of the head or are visible, so that objections to use of thedevice, based on psychological factors, and cosmetic viewpoints, areeliminated.

A further advantage lies in the fact that the replacement batteries, andits attendant costs, are eliminated.

A still further advantage resides in the elimination of the rushing andclothing noise which is a constant source of annoyance to individualsfrom movement across the microphones of hearing aids which are carriedabout the body.

The device is also of particular advantage for children who require theuse of a hearing aid to hear sulficiently to carry on their school work,While finding it necessary to remove these aids during play and physicalactivity since external hearing aids and devices are easily dislodged orbroken during such play or physical activity.

It is thus seen that I have provided a means of aiding hearing ofindividuals whose hearing is not remediable medically or surgically, butwho require amplification of sound for hearing.

It is also seen that I have provided an audio implant in the nature of aminiaturized system for amplifying sound, which is placed directly inthe sturcture of the ear and utilizes the impaired or damaged, but stillfunctional, normal channels for transmission of sound to the brain.

It is further seen that I have provided an implant which is disposed inits entirety within the head structure of the user, and is entirelyconcealed from view, thereby eliminating any and all objections to itsuse from an esthetic or cosmetic point of view.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the details ofthe invention, as described, Without departing from the spirit of theinvention, or the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

An aid for hearing comprising a sound receiving and amplifying unitcompletely encased and sealed within a covering material which isneutral to the tissues of the human body, and is adapted to be implantedWithin the mastoid antrum of the body, said unit comprising amicrophone, a battery, an amplifying system, and a speaker; a microphonetube extending from the microphone within said unit to a point beneaththe skin and behind the ear of the wearer of the implant, said tubeconsisting of a material which is neutral to the tissues of the humanbody, and which is completely concealed by said skin; and a speaker tubeextending from the speaker within said unit through the mastoid antrumand into the middle ear space behind the ear drum, said speaker tubealso consisting of a material which is neutral to the tissues of thehuman body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,995,633 8/1961 Puharich et al.179107 3,054,397 9/1962 Benziger 1282 3,156,787 11/1964 Puharich et al.179107 3,170,993 2/1965 Puharich et a1. 179107 3,195,540 7/1965 Waller128422 3,209,081 9/1965 Ducote et al 179-107 OTHER REFERENCES Senning:Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, vol. 38, No. 5, p. 639,November 1959.

KATHLEEN H. CLAFFY, Primary Examiner.

DR. SIMON BRODER, Examiner.

A. MCGILL, Assistant Examiner.

